The 161st Wellesley- North Easthope Fall Fair is set for Tuesday and Wednesday and it has Murray Schlueter feeling nostalgic.
![Wellesley and North Easthope Agricultural Society president Murray Schlueter is excited to see the fall fair kick off on September 9. [Scott Barber / The Observer]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/post_news_fallfair.jpg)
“Sixty years ago I showed at this fair,” the Wellesley and North Easthope Agricultural Society president remembered. “I was in 4-H and I showed dairy calf here for three years because I grew up on a dairy farm.”
Schlueter’s roots ensured he understood the important role food producers play in the region. He fears that knowledge is lost on young people today.
“Only two per cent of our people have any connection to the farm,” explained Schlueter. “Two per cent of our population; It’s scary. In the past, almost everybody had a relative on a farm.”
This year, the fair’s executive adopted the slogan, “the international year of the family farm: hands across the fence,” and are working hard to connect “urban and rural communities.”
“It’s important to know where our food comes from and to know what we grow here in Ontario, whether it’s wheat, corn or beef, pork and chicken,” said Schleuter. “Kids should understand that there are a lot of people who work very hard to make sure food gets to their table.”
That’s particularly true against the backdrop of the animal abuse and food safety scandals that have “given the farm a bad rap,” recently.
To refocus the narrative, the fair will host Grade 3 students from across the region for a lesson in dairy farming.
“On Tuesday we have a farmer who brings a heifer and two cows to be able to show the lifecycle of the heifer,” explained Schlueter. For example, the kids learn that the cow has to have a calf before she produces milk. They learn how much food she needs each day to sustain her and then they follow the milk right through to the breakfast table and get to enjoy milk and ice cream at the end of the day.”
Other agricultural events include a horse show on Wednesday at 11 a.m. and the livestock exhibit at 2 p.m. on the ball diamond.
The highly anticipated Wellesley Idol semi-finals and the fair ambassador competition highlight a jam-packed Tuesday evening program in the Wellesley arena.
“We have six contestants for fair ambassador and another seven contestants for Wellesley Idol,” said Schlueter. “So there are 13 talented young people taking part and it is going to make for an exciting evening.”
Madeline Lehman, Ben Cottrill, Scott Carar, Taylor Kelly, Lindsay Slessor, Nikita Metzger and Ella Nafziger will perform for a shot at the idol finals, set for the Apple, Butter and Cheese Festival on September 27.
While, Sally Draper, Taylor Gerber, Ashley Jeffries, Rebecca Mula, Lia Humphrey and Fayrosa Mya are vying for the ambassador title, which is currently held by 2013 winner Kelsey Bisch.
It’s quite an honour, said Schlueter.
“The winner of the ambassador competition will get to visit other fairs in the area and will also get to go to the Royal York Hotel with the executive for the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies convention. There are about 200 fairs in Ontario and so it’s one of the biggest conventions the Royal York hosts each year. People come from all over the province.”
Gates open at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, with a $6 admission. Elementary school children get in free. Mayor Ross Kelterborn will officially open the fair at 7 p.m. in the arena, to be followed by the ambassador and idol competitions.
Gates open at 10 a.m. on Wednesday where there will be horse and livestock shows, an exotic animal exhibit and the annual parade. Admission is free Wednesday evening for the dog agility show and fireworks display. The midway runs 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday and noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
